There is None Like God

My Purpose Will Stand Main Idea There is none like God; nothing and no one compares with God. Memory Verse I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9b Teacher Introduction The words " I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me" from Isaiah 46:9 can be so familiar to us that we overlook the staggering reality that God is in a category all by Himself. In all the universe there is none like God. Nothing and no one compares to God, who is infi nite in wisdom and power. Unlike the idols of man, God is self-existing, eternal, and active. Pray that this truth will land on you in a fresh way this week and that you will worship this God who is so uniquely above all else. Pray that God would open the eyes and hearts of the children you teach this week to show them that there is none like Him. Scripture 1) Isaiah 40:12-22, 25-26 2) Isaiah 46:9b 3) (Isaiah 40:11) Teacher Preparation Study the Scripture passages carefully and prayerfully. Ask God to make them real in your own heart. Be open to what God may be teaching you in this lesson. Study the lesson well. Pray for the students in your class. From the Resources DVD Paper Airplanes Instructions (1A) Airbus (1B) Isaiah 40:25-26 (1C) Isaiah 46:9b (1D) Other Visuals Bible Growing in Faith Together for (one per student) Overview for Parents (one per student) 4-6 sheets of 8.5" x 11" paper (to make paper airplanes) Visuals Preparation As students are coming in to class, hand 4-6 students a sheet of paper and ask each of them to quickly make a paper airplane. You can use the paper airplane instruction sheet (1A) from the Resources DVD to help with this, if needed. If you will be filling out the chart in the lesson on a whiteboard, draw the empty chart before class and have the appropriate materials ready. Note: You may want to keep the Verse Visuals (1C-1D) displayed in the room for a few weeks. 1

Notebook Note Throughout the lesson, in the student notebooks, there are questions to answer and fill-in-the-blank sentences to complete. Whenever you see underlined words and the word (Notebook) in parentheses in the lesson, it might be helpful for you to slow down and possibly repeat what you have said so that your students can follow along and complete their notebook pages. As much as possible, though, do this in a way that doesn t interrupt the lesson flow. Notice that the curriculum indicates that students will be prompted to write down or fill in definitions or phrases throughout the lesson. This will help both Reading & Writing and Visual learners, as the lesson keeps them constantly engaged with seeing/reading terms written on the board, and then writing them down in their notebooks. 2

Large Group Lesson PAPER AIRPLANES Illustration Large Group Lesson (Call the students with the paper airplanes to the front of the class. Note that all the planes are similar; quickly point out a few unique features. Ask each student to Lesson throw his 1 airplane to see how far it goes. Comment on the airplane that goes the farthest.) An attention-getter is crucial to the start of Though it is fun to make and design paper airplanes, they are only airplanes made of paper. They have many limitations like short flights, the inability to carry a any lesson. Kinesthetic/Tactile learners are Illustration load, and they break easily. They are, after all, only paper airplanes. targeted specifically in this illustration when PAPER AIRPLANES (Call the students with the paper airplanes to the front of the class. Note that all the the teacher asks them to come to the front planes There are is similar; a plane, quickly however, point that out a doesn t few unique have features. those same Ask limitations. each student The to Airbus throw his of the class (move), take a paper airplane airplane A380 nicknamed to see how far it Superjumbo has goes. Comment on two the decks airplane and that is goes the largest the farthest.) passenger (touch), and throw it to see how far it goes plane in the world. Standing six stories tall and stretching two-thirds of the length (move self and object being touched). of Though a football it is fun field, to there make is and room design to seat paper 853 airplanes, people. they are only airplanes made (Display of paper. Airbus.) They have many limitations like short flights, the inability to carry a load, and they break easily. They are, after all, only paper airplanes. Flying at about 560 miles per hour, the Airbus A380 is in an entirely different class There than is a a plane, paper however, airplane. that It is doesn t absurd even have to those compare same the limitations. two kinds The of planes. Airbus A380 nicknamed Superjumbo has two decks and is the largest passenger But plane as in absurd the world. as it Standing is to compare six stories a paper tall and airplane stretching to the two-thirds Airbus A380, of the it length is far more of a football absurd field, to compare there is room anything to seat or 853 anyone people. to God. In fact, a paper airplane (Display and an Airbus.) Airbus are more closely alike than anything is like God. God is totally and completely in a category by Himself far superior to anything or anyone else. Flying at about 560 miles per hour, the Airbus A380 is in an entirely different class than a paper airplane. It is absurd even to compare the two kinds of planes. The previous learning target is now God s But as Greatness absurd as it is to compare a paper directed airplane to Auditory the Airbus learners: A380, it by is comparing far more absurd to compare anything or the anyone paper to God. airplane In fact, to a paper real airplane, The and Bible an shows Airbus how are absurd more closely it is to alike compare than and anything then using to is God. like that God. analogy God is totally lead and the (Ask completely the students in a to category turn to Isaiah by Himself far 40:12-17 students and superior read it into aloud anything thinking together. or anyone of Also, God s note else. being the first of the fill-in-the-blank questions in the Student superior Notebook, to everything indicated by else, the underlining the teacher in This teaching prompt encourages the answer to the question following the Scripture.) can seamlessly incorporate the kinesthetic students to use both both sound God s Isaiah Greatness activity to an auditory teaching moment. (everyone reading aloud) and 40:12-17 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand note-taking (filling in the blanks), and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth successfully targeting both Auditory The in Bible a measure shows how and absurd weighed it is to the compare mountains anything in to scales God. and the hills in a and Reading & Writing learners. (Ask balance? the students 13 Who to turn has to measured Isaiah 40:12-17 the Spirit and read of the it aloud LORD, together. or what Also, man note shows the first of the him fill-in-the-blank his counsel? questions 14 Whom did in the he Student consult, Notebook, and who indicated made him by understand? the underlining in the answer Who taught to the question him the following path of the justice, Scripture.) and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a Isaiah drop from 40:12-17 Who a bucket, and has are measured accounted the as waters the dust in the on the hollow scales; of his behold, hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows 3 him his counsel? 14 Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, 3

he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. 16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. 17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. What is Isaiah s point in this passage? [God is great, and His power and understanding are unlimited.] (See Notebook.) Isaiah is giving us a word picture of the immense greatness of God. He is so great that it is as though all the waters of the world could be held just in the hollow of His hand. (Demonstrate the hollow of your hand.) A span is the distance between the thumb and your pinkie (or smallest) finger in an outstretched hand. Illustration (Ask a student to quickly come to the front of the room and measure a table or other object in spans.) Isaiah says that the immense heavens galaxy after galaxy is measured by a span of God s hand. Isaiah is trying his best to show that God is infinite in greatness so great, that we really can t comprehend His greatness. Not only is God great, but He is also infinitely wise. (See Notebook.) This illustration provides the perfect No man can give Him advice or teach Him anything. opportunity for a Kinesthetic/Tactile learner to grasp what Isaiah meant by the galaxies being measured by the span of What are some of the things we must learn after we are born? [skills how to eat, talk, God s hand the student will move from tie a shoe, dress ourselves ; relational skills how to greet people, how to apologize ; his seat to the table/object, and then use math, science, geography, history ; who God is, His plan of salvation ] (Don t try to get his hand to touch and measure it in spans. a long list. Just ask for quick responses to show the vast amount of knowledge that we must be taught.) God knows it all and more. And He knows what we have not yet discovered the cure to every disease and every imaginable and even unimaginable technological advance. He knows what will happen tomorrow and next year, and He knows what happened in the past every detail of every war, every history of every nation, even the secrets of every government. He knows the secrets of the entire universe things we can t even imagine. He knows the right decision in every situation and how that situation will be resolved. And He knows every thought you and I think, everything we desire, every cell in our bodies, and every hair on our heads. 4

Whether you choose two boys or two girls for this illustration, Kinesthetic/ Tactile learners will be aided in their understanding of God s infinite, personal knowledge by touching and counting each other s hairs. Illustration (Ask two girls to come to the front of the class. Instruct one of the girls to start counting the number of hairs on the other girl s head. You may also do this illustration with the whole class, pairing them up, boys with boys and girls with girls. Be sure to progress through the illustration quickly. After they have counted long enough to see how futile the task is, ask the following rhetorical questions that will lead them to see the awesomeness Illustration of God.) (Ask How two long girls do to come you think to the it front would of take the class. you to Instruct count the one hairs of the on girls your to neighbor s start counting the head? number How of hairs about on the the hairs other on girl s the heads head. of You five may people also in do the this room? illustration Could with you the whole count class, the pairing hair on them heads up, boys of everyone with boys in our and church? girls with girls. Be sure to progress through the illustration quickly. After they have counted long enough to see how futile God the knows task is, not ask only the the following number of rhetorical hairs on questions the heads that of everyone will lead in them our church, to see the awesomeness but of everyone of God.) in our town...everyone in our state...everyone in our country...and everyone in the whole world. He knows how many hairs you have on your head even How long after do you you comb think your it would hair and take some you of to it count falls out the in hairs your on brush your (Luke neighbor s 12:7). Do head? you How know about anyone the else hairs who on can the do heads this? of five people in the room? Could you count the hair on the heads of everyone in our church? God knows not only the number of hairs on the heads of everyone in our church, What does Isaiah say about the nations the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, but of everyone in our town...everyone in our state...everyone in our country...and Japan, Brazil? [Compared to God, they are "as nothing." They are as a drop of water in everyone in the whole world. He knows how many hairs you have on your head a whole bucket of water. They are insignificant. God is so great and so worthy of our even after you comb your hair and some of it falls out in your brush (Luke 12:7). worship that a nation cannot contain enough wood and animals to make a sufficient Do you know anyone else who can do this? sacrifice to Him.] (See Notebook.) God is Greater than Idols What does Isaiah say about the nations the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Japan, Brazil? [Compared to God, they are "as nothing." They are as a drop of water in This prompt directs the teacher to Isaiah a whole then bucket makes of a water. comparison. They are (Ask insignificant. a student to God read is Isaiah so great 40:18-20.) and so worthy of our instruct students to fill in the underlined worship that a nation cannot contain enough wood and animals to make a sufficient Isaiah 40:18-20 To whom then words will in you the liken Student God, Notebook. or what Writing sacrifice to Him.] (See Notebook.) likeness compare with him? 19 An things idol! A down craftsman in the notebook casts it, during and the a goldsmith overlays it with gold lesson and casts helps synthesize for it silver the chains. information, God 20 He is who Greater is too than impoverished Idolsfor especially an offering for Visual chooses and wood Reading that & will not rot; he seeks out a skillful Writing craftsman learners. to set up an idol that Isaiah will then not makes move. a comparison. (Ask a student to read Isaiah 40:18-20.) (Ask Isaiah the students 40:18-20 To to turn to the whom chart then in the will Notebook you and liken fill it God, out together, or what talking through likeness verses compare 19 and 20. with You may him? want 19 An to fill idol! out a chart A craftsman on the board casts at the it, same and time.) a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. 20 Men (craftsmen and goldsmiths) make idols out of existing materials like He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that wood they are man-made. No one made God. He had no beginning He is will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that self-existing (Colossians 1:17; Acts 17:25). will not move. (Ask the students to turn to the chart in the Notebook and fill it out together, talking through verses 19 and 20. You may want to fill out a chart on the board at the same time.) 5 Men license (craftsmen for web order: and 38022. goldsmiths) Download license make file for terms. idols out of existing materials like wood they are man-made. No one made God. He had no beginning He is self-existing (Colossians 1:17; Acts 17:25). 5

Idols are temporary they are made of materials that rot. God is eternal (Revelation 1:8). Idols don t move. They can t do anything. They are inactive. God is active He speaks and works (Psalm 50:1, John 5:17). Students fill in the chart in their Notebooks, while the teacher fills it out at the same time on the board: a perfect teaching channel for both Visual and Reading & Writing learners. IDOLS Man-Made Temporary Inactive GOD Self-Existing Eternal Active What point is Isaiah making by showing this comparison? [the absurdity of comparing anything to God or worshipping anything other than Him] (See Notebook.) God is Greater than Man Asking a student to read a passage aloud is a great way to target Reading & Writing and Auditory learners. Isaiah shows us another comparison to make his point even stronger. (Ask a student to read Isaiah 40:21-22.) Isaiah 40:21-22 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in. What comparison does Isaiah make in these verses? [He compares God and man. God is so great that He sits above the circle of the earth, sustaining and controlling the whole universe. In comparison to God, men are like tiny grasshoppers.] The greatness of God is so immense, so magnificent that Isaiah says it should be shouted about shouted out loudly from the top of a high mountain (Isaiah 40:9). The whole world should know of God s greatness. Everyone should know the greatness of God it is obvious if you only open your eyes and look. There is no one or nothing like the God of Isaiah. 6

Only One God Some lessons will encourage teachers to lead their students in a time of singing and worship perfect Small to draw Group Application Auditory learners in and cement the truths about God they learned in the lesson through song. (Display Isaiah 40:25-26 and Isaiah 46:9 b, while reading the verses with vigor and enthusiasm.) Isaiah 40:25-26 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says The the revised Holy One. editions 26 Lift of up Children your eyes on high and see: who created these? Desiring He who brings God curricula out their host include by number, stunning calling them all by name, by the greatness visuals, like of his the might, ones shown and because in this he is strong in power not one is missing. portion of the lesson. By having the students see the amazing, galaxy Isaiah background 46:9 b I am as God, they and read there is verse, no other; I am God, and there is none like me. teacher is targeting both Visual and (See the final Reading question & in Writing the Student learners. Notebook: "What does God say about Himself in Isaiah 46:9 b?" Answers will vary.) (End the teaching time by singing a worship song showing or praising the greatness of God, or with a prayer praising God for His greatness as shown in Job 38:4-39:1.) The following are some possible discussion topics. None Like God List some things that show that no one is like God and no one can do the things God can do. For example: He is the only One who can part the sea. No one else can cover the earth with a flood. No one else can be everywhere all the time. No one can pardon sin like God. What then should be our response to the God who has no equal, who has no comparison? After the students respond, ask what this would look like practically in their lives. For example: We should respect God. What does respect for God look like as you go to school tomorrow? Shepherd Isaiah shows Israel the greatness of God in the context of extending God s comfort to a downtrodden people (40:1-11). Read Isaiah 40:11. 7